W B Callaway

Air Vice-Marshal W B Callaway

William Bertram

b: 15 Oct 1889 r: 6 May 1945 d: 28 Aug 1974

CBE - 1 Jan 1943, AFC - 3 Jun 1919, MiD - 1 May 1918, MiD - 17 Mar 1941, MiD – 1 Jan 1945, PR2 - 12 Jun 1945, DL (Gloucestershire) - 26 Feb 1953.

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

(RN): - Assistant Clerk: 15 Jul 1907, Clerk 1st Class: 15 Jul 1908, Ass't Pay: 15 Oct 1910, Pay: 15 Oct 1914, Act Flt Lt: 28 Dec 1916, Flt Lt: 23 May 1917, Act Flt Cdr: xx xxx xxxx.

(RAF): - (T) Capt [Lt]: 1 Apr 1918, Capt: 1 Dec 1918, Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Sqn Ldr: 1 Jan 1921, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1926, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1933, A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1937, Act AVM: 25 Nov 1942 - 1 Feb 1945, AVM: Retained.

William Bertram Callaway

by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, September 1945
NPG x166325

15 Jul 1907: Attached HMS Pembroke for six months study in Germany

14 May 1908: Clerk, Rear Admiral's Office, HMS Drake.

15 Jul 1908: Passed for Clerk 1st Class

xx Apr 1908: Qualified as Interpreter (German)

20 Jul 1909: Clerk, HMS Bellerophon

14 Jan 1910: Passed Intermediate Exam

10 Nov 1910: Assistant Paymaster, HMS Ramone (Dartmouth College)

17 Sep 1912: Assistant Paymaster, HMS Cumberland

xx Dec 1914: Assistant Paymaster, HMS Challenger

16 Mar 1915: Acting Interpreter (German), HMS Astrea

9 Jun 1915: Officer i/c, HMS Hollybrook

xx Jun 1916: Officer i/c, HMS Lupin

28 Dec 1916: U/T Pilot, HMS Daedalus.

xx xxx 1917: Pilot, RNAS/RAF Cattewater

xx xxx xxxx: Pilot, Newlyn Air Station

1 Aug 1919: Awarded Permanent Commission as a Captain (Seaplane)

1 Sep 1919: Staff Officer 2nd Class (Air Staff), HQ Coastal Area.

31 Oct 1919: Staff, Ground Wing, RAF College - Cranwell

22 Jan 1920: Removed from the Navy Lists on being awarded Permanent Commission in RAF

xx xxx xxxx: Staff, No 2 School of Technical Training (Boy's).

23 Jan 1922: Staff, School of Naval Co-operation.

5 Feb 1923: Staff, RAF Base Calshot.

1 Apr 1923: Officer Commanding, No 480 (Flying Boat) Flight.

4 Feb 1926: Flying Staff, HMS Eagle.

30 Sep 1926: Supernumerary, RAF Depot

21 Jan 1927: Attended Army Staff College, Camberley.

3 Jan 1929: Staff, HQ No 10 Group.

7 Sep 1929: OC Flying, HMS Furious.

6 Aug 1930: Staff, Deputy Directorate of Staff Duties.

1 Sep 1933: Officer Commanding, RAF Base Calshot.

20 Mar 1936: Officer Commanding, No 203 Sqn.

13 Jun 1937: Departed Basrah on leave to the UK

17 Aug 1937: AOC, No 5 (Bomber) Group.

14 Sep 1939: Assistant to AOC, No 18 (Reconnaissance) Group

16 Oct 1939: Supernumerary, HQ, No 12 (Fighter) Group.

26 Oct 1939: SASO, HQ No 12 (Fighter) Group.

25 Nov 1942: SASO, HQ Fighter Command

15 Oct 1943: SASO, ADGB.

7 May 1945: Commandant, Midland Command, ATC.

xx xxx 1947: Controller, South West Division, Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Educated at Tollington Park College, he later served aboard the Cruiser, HMS Cumberland, which was a Training Ship for Naval Cadets, as an Interpreter. On retirement from the RAF he became Divisional Controller, South-West Division, Ministry of Civil Aviation, until final retirement in 1953.

Citation for the award of Mention in Despatches (in lieu of CB)

CALLAWAY, William Bertram, A/V/M, CBE, AFC (Royal Air Force) - Air Defence Great Britain Headquarters - Mention in Despatches - awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1945.

Recommendation for Commander of the Order of the Bath.

"This officer has been Senior Air Staff Officer since November 1942. During this period the whole conception of an Air Expeditionary Force was formed, planned and put into execution. This has involved extensive changes in the layout of the static defences in respect of arms, Fighter Sectors, guns, searchlights and balloons. As leader and coordinator of the Air Defence Great Britain staff, Air Vice-Marshal Callaway has been indefatigable and untiring. He has inspired his staff with keenness and has rendered outstanding service."

(Source - Air 2/9017)

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